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Healthcare
Special Issues
Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers
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Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Healthcare Organizations, Systems, and Providers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2026) | Viewed by 4051

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juan Jesús García-Iglesias

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Interests: public health; preventive medicine; nurses; mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria do Rosário Martins

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor Assistant
1. Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-314 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
2. Health Sciences Research Unit Nursing (UICISA-E), Esenfc-Avenida Bissaya Barreto (Polo A), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: nursing; elderly; aging; loneliness; gerontology; health promotion; mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fátima Frade

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
1. Child and Youth Nursing Department, Nursing School of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1600-190 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1600-190 Lisboa, Portugal
3. Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies, Institute of Social and Political Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: nursing; social science; pediatric nursing; mental health; public health
Prof. Dr. Juan Gómez-Salgado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Interests: public health; preventive medicine; nurses; mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to our Special Issue entitled “Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers”.

The work environment can be considered one of the main determining factors that can influence workers' health, especially as it involves the structural and organizational conditions to which the worker is subjected. This work environment has positive effects when work provides satisfaction and well-being or negative effects provoked by situations of stress, inadequate working patterns and schedules, possible situations of abuse and/or harassment, etc.

Healthcare workers are exposed to a multitude of adverse risks and working conditions in the process of exercising their duties, such as staff shortages, excessive workloads, night shifts, long work shifts, a high number of hours worked per week, a high frequency of rotation between services, and high psychological burden, due to the management of critical situations, among others. All these working conditions make the work carried out by healthcare workers particularly stressful and diverse, if appropriate measures are not taken or adequate work resources do not exist, this can, thus, lead to injuries and safety problems for other people, manifestations of high levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia, emotional overload, fatigue, exhaustion, and loss of work engagement, mainly as a result of the nature of their work and the place where they perform their work.

Considering these points, this Special Issue aims to evaluate the health of healthcare workers and its associations with their work conditions.

Dr. Juan Jesús García-Iglesias
Guest Editor

Dr. Maria do Rosário Martins
Dr. Fátima Frade
Prof. Dr. Juan Gómez-Salgado
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • occupational health
  • mental health
  • health personnel
  • work condition
  • risk factors
  • psychological distress
  • burnout
  • anxiety
  • well-being

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 278 KB  
Article
“The Only People That Really Understand”: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Workers’ COVID-19 Experiences and Implications for Workplace Support
by Brian En Chyi Lee, Elizabeth M. Clancy, Leanne Boyd, Andrea Reupert, Nicholas F. Taylor, Sherrica Senewiratne and Jade Sheen
Healthcare 2026, 14(10), 1400; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14101400 - 20 May 2026
Viewed by 292
Abstract
Background: Healthcare systems globally continue to experience persistent workforce and system-level challenges as increased workloads, lasting wellbeing impacts, and retention issues remain following the pandemic. To inform strategies and interventions to address these issues, this paper explored the workplace experiences of Victorian [...] Read more.
Background: Healthcare systems globally continue to experience persistent workforce and system-level challenges as increased workloads, lasting wellbeing impacts, and retention issues remain following the pandemic. To inform strategies and interventions to address these issues, this paper explored the workplace experiences of Victorian (Australia) frontline healthcare workers with parenting responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 39 frontline healthcare workers from a large metropolitan hospital were interviewed between October 2020 and February 2021. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse transcripts. Results: Three superordinate themes and five subordinate themes were identified. Themes highlighted the significant pressure that rapid workplace changes placed on healthcare staff and leaders, affecting their physical, mental, and relational health. Support from peers and supervisors was protective, though this increased demands on supervisors themselves. While many staff reported pride in their work, some experienced reduced career satisfaction and concerns about lasting psychological impacts. Conclusions: This study identifies how workplace supports operate through communication transparency, leadership capacity, and protected peer-support space, translating to organisational priorities for the post-pandemic workforce. In the context of ongoing workforce shortages and heightened demands post-pandemic, these findings underscore the importance of strengthening leadership capacity, embedding sustainable workplace supports, and addressing the psychological needs of healthcare staff. Such system-level responses are essential for pandemic recovery, improving workforce retention and staff wellbeing in the modern healthcare environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
15 pages, 363 KB  
Article
Impact of Resident Doctors’ Strike on Psychological Outcomes Among Paramedics in Teaching-Hospital Emergency Departments: A Nationwide Multicenter Survey
by Keun-Young Kim, Yong-Seok Kim, Seong-Ju Kim, Geon-Uk Ryu, Hyeong-Tae Kim, Chan-Young Kang and Yun-Deok Jang
Healthcare 2026, 14(4), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14040480 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 524
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In March 2024, a resident doctor’s strike in South Korea created staffing gaps in teaching-hospital emergency departments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre- and post-strike changes in job stress, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and job performance confidence among paramedics who [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: In March 2024, a resident doctor’s strike in South Korea created staffing gaps in teaching-hospital emergency departments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre- and post-strike changes in job stress, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and job performance confidence among paramedics who work in hospitals and to compare patterns of change by career stage. Methods: Paramedics who work in hospitals designated as regional and local emergency medical centers completed a structured 41-item questionnaire across four domains on a 5-point Likert scale. Retrospective pre- and post-strike ratings were analyzed using paired t-tests. Subgroup analyses compared senior (≥5 years) and junior (1–2 years) paramedics. Results: Job stress increased after the strike, including additional task instruction (2.8 ± 0.9 to 3.6 ± 1.0), insufficient rest (3.1 ± 0.7 to 3.9 ± 0.9), and multitasking burden (3.3 ± 0.8 to 4.1 ± 0.9). Self-efficacy declined modestly (confronting difficult tasks: 3.9 ± 0.9 to 3.6 ± 0.9). Job satisfaction decreased (reward after work: 3.9 ± 0.7 to 3.5 ± 0.9), while turnover intention increased (2.7 ± 1.0 to 3.9 ± 0.9). Performance confidence showed minimal change (competence: 4.4 ± 0.6 to 4.3 ± 0.8). Subgroup findings were similar in seniors and juniors, with stress increasing and self-efficacy decreasing overall. Conclusions: Resident workforce shortages increased job stress among paramedics working in teaching-hospital emergency departments and heightened negative perceptions of their work. To prepare for similar workforce crises in the future, it is necessary to revise and realign the legal scope of practice to reflect paramedics’ roles and responsibilities in real-world settings while simultaneously establishing the policy and institutional infrastructure needed to support these changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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10 pages, 196 KB  
Article
Factors Influencing Emergency Empathy Towards Patients and Their Relatives: A National Survey Study in Türkiye
by Emin Fatih Vişneci and Osman Lütfi Demirci
Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131559 - 30 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1079
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the empathy that emergency physicians develop toward patients. Material and Method: A total of 200 physicians working in the emergency department were included in the study. The Basic Empathy Scale (BES) [...] Read more.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the empathy that emergency physicians develop toward patients. Material and Method: A total of 200 physicians working in the emergency department were included in the study. The Basic Empathy Scale (BES) consists of 20 items, which are divided into two factors: cognitive and affective empathy. The study data were obtained from the surveys. Results: All empathy scores were statistically significantly higher in women than in men (p values: 0.006, 0.008, and 0.001, respectively). The affective and basic empathy scores of single individuals are higher than those of married individuals (p values: 0.032 and 0.034, respectively). The affective and basic empathy scores of individuals without children are higher than those of individuals with children (p values: 0.023 and 0.014, respectively). Individuals in medical schools show higher cognitive empathy scores compared to non-medical studying (p: 0.004). Individuals who completed special courses (communication, stress management, and empathy) have higher empathy scores compared to those who did not participate (p values: 0.002, 0.021, and 0.001, respectively). All empathy scores are similar regardless of the individual’s experience levels, satisfaction with the work environment, the patient group the individuals has more emotional ties with, or the individual’s ability to understand patients in the environment in which they work. The basic empathy scores of individuals working ≤40 h and ≥60 h are similar but less than the basic empathy scores of individuals working 41–60 h. Conclusions: Training during or after medical school and better working hours will help to improve the empathy of emergency physicians. Female, single, childless physicians have an advantage regarding empathy in the ED. For married physicians having children, more flexible working environments can increase empathy levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)

Review

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14 pages, 687 KB  
Review
Mapping the Second Victim Experience Among Western Nurses: A Scoping Review
by Cristina Costeira, Helena Junqueira, Pedro Quintas, Ângela Pragosa, Ema Mata, Hugo Duarte, Luís Bom and Nelson Pais
Healthcare 2026, 14(4), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14040467 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1147
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The second victim phenomenon is increasingly recognized as a significant issue affecting nurses involved in adverse events resulting from clinical decisions or interventions. Although patients and families, considered the first victims, are directly impacted, nurses often undergo challenges as second victims. With [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The second victim phenomenon is increasingly recognized as a significant issue affecting nurses involved in adverse events resulting from clinical decisions or interventions. Although patients and families, considered the first victims, are directly impacted, nurses often undergo challenges as second victims. With the growing awareness of these effects, this study aimed to map recent evidence on the second victim phenomenon among nurses in Western countries. Methodology: A Scoping Review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology in September 2024 and updated in November 2025. Eligibility criteria were defined using the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) framework. Searches were performed in PubMed, CINAHL, SciELO, and Scopus. Two independent reviewers carried out study selection, data extraction, and synthesis. Rayyan® supported screening, performed in two phases: title/abstract review and full-text analysis. Data extraction was conducted in Excel®, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and categorized into thematic areas. The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and was registered in the Open Science Framework. Results: Of the 111 articles retrieved, 39 met the inclusion criteria. Evidence shows that although several support programs exist for nurses as second victims, they are often perceived as inadequate or inconsistently implemented. Second victim experience is associated with physical (e.g., sleep disturbances), emotional (e.g., fear), and psychological (e.g., distress) symptoms, with consequences such as absenteeism, professional dissatisfaction, loss of meaning in life, and even suicide. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for more comprehensive, accessible, and consistently implemented support strategies to meet the complex needs of nurses affected by the second victim phenomenon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Conditions and Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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